New Zealand rarest and most valuable pre-decimal circulating coins
By CAA | Monday, 13 July 2020
Because we did the Top 10 most valuable and rare pre-decimal australian circulating coins, here's some of the most rarest and most valuable New Zealand pre-decimal circulating coins.
Crown 1935
The crown piece of 1935, popularly known as the Waitangi Crown because of its reverse design and exergue inscription, occupies a special place in the numismatic history of New Zealand. As a work of art, it is surely less startling than the British Silver Jubilee crown of the same year by the same designer, Percy Metcalfe, which depicts a bareheaded St George on a clockwork horse vanquishing a very angular wounded dragon. Read more »
With a low mintage of 1,128 coins produced, this coin is worth from $5,000 AUD to $12,000 AUD both in uncirculated and proof finish.
Crown 1935 price guide and values »
Florin 1936
Rarely seen in uncirculated condition and minted at 150,000 copies, the only MS-66 PCGS example of this coin sold for $7,000 at Heritage Auctions and the only MS-65+ PCGS example sold for more than $10,000 in 2013.
The Florin 1936 price guide and values »
Florin 1946 - Flatback
The only known example of this coin graded MS-65 sold at Stack's Bowers Auction in January, 2020, for $3,000 AUD.
The Florin 1946 price guide and values »
Threepence 1935
With 2 NGC and 10 PCGS MS-60 and above, the threepence 1935 is a key date with only 40,364 of them produced. It is worth $1,000 AUD and up in MS-64 and higher conditions.
The Threepence 1935 price guide and values »
Shilling 1942 - Broken Back
One of the few existing New Zealand shilling variety, this coins also worth $1,000 AUD and up in MS-64 and higher conditions. Only 2 NGC and 6 PCGS are graded MS-60 and above.
The Shilling 1942 price guide and values »
Threepence 1956 - No Strap
Mary Gillick was a sculptor best known for her effigy of Elizabeth II used on coinage in the United Kingdom and elsewhere from 1953 to 1970. At the age of 71, had her first coin design accepts in 1953. It was the profile design of Queen Elizabeth II and she was depicted as a teenage girl with more of the neck and shoulder showing than was the customary design, so a shoulder strap was added.
This very small silver coin can fetch $500 AUD to $750 AUD at auctions in excellent condition.
Threepence 1956 price guide and values »
The Sixpence 1957 No strap is also worth $1,000 AUD and up in MS-64 and higher conditions.
Other key dates, semi-key dates and varieties
- Half Penny 1942
- Half Penny 1954
- Penny 1945 - Burnished
- Penny 1954
- Threepence 1941
- Threepence 1942 - 1 Dot
- Sixpence 1941
- Sixpence 1950
- Florin 1940
- Half Crown 1935
- Half Crown 1944
